Fender Select Telecaster Electric Guitar Review

Fender Telecasters are among the most
iconic guitars of all time. And though
they were perceived as nothing short of radical
in 1950, in the decades since they’ve become
the very definition of utilitarian dependability.
Even in flashy Fender custom colors,
Telecasters exude an understated cool that contrasts
with the in-your-face, guitar-as-art design
philosophy that’s grown up in the Tele’s wake.

That said, Fender has never hesitated to
hang a little bling on the Tele’s otherwise
minimalist frame. In recent years, ornate versions
like the Custom Shop 40th Anniversary
Tele (which found a high-profile champion in
Keith Urban) were unleashed to reach luxury-minded
buyers. And it’s in that same spirit that
Fender recently released the Select Series—a
family of three Telecasters, two Stratocasters,
and a Jazz and a Precision bass outfitted with
luxurious appointments, including highly
figured tops, necks crafted from carefully procured
woods, warmer-sounding pickups, and
improved electronics and hardware. The Select
Telecaster reviewed here is arguably the most
traditional instrument in the Select line, and
it may be the most handsome, too. It’s also a
very refined electric guitar that reminds you
what a near-perfect platform the Telecaster
is to begin with.

Take You to the Top
When you pop open the top of the Select
Tele’s vintage-inspired G&G tweed case,
you’ll probably take a minute to just stare
and behold how simply gorgeous the guitar
is. The violin burst gloss-lacquer finish is
handstained rather than painted on, which is
a first for Fender. The spectacularly flamed,
solid-maple top—which caps a honeycombchambered
ash body—looks simultaneously
old school and flashy. Together, they make
the Fender Select Telecaster about as easy to
ignore as Megan Fox on Oscar Night.

Given the guitar’s model-on-the-runway
good looks, it will be tempting for some
to store it in the trophy case straightaway,
but Fender designed this Tele as a player’s
guitar above all, and even little touches like
the included strap and instrument cable
provoke you to put the guitar into action
right out of the box.

Fender’s hardware choices also indicate
that the Select is designed for performing
musicians rather than the vintage-specobsessed
collector. Look the guitar over,
and you’ll notice details like staggered,
sealed locking tuners, Schaller-style strap
locks, a synthetic bone nut, and a bridge
with six bent-steel saddles and a brass
plate. (Note: The locking tuners are only
available on the nickel-chrome hardwareequipped
models. The gold-hardwareequipped
models come with traditionalstyle
tuners with pearloid buttons.)

The Select Telecaster’s electronics include
two single-coils designed especially for the
Select series, and a no-load tone control that
removes the tone pot and capacitor from the
circuit when it’s turned all the way up. This
yields a more direct, open, and uncolored tone.

Comfort and ergonomics concerns played
a big role in the Select Telecaster’s design.
First off, if you’re worried about a heavy
instrument that will have you hunched
over by the second set, have no fear. Fender
imposed a strict weight limit on the Select
Series guitars: Each weighs less than 8
pounds. The rear of the Select Telecaster also
has a tummy cut, and its maple C-shaped
neck features medium-jumbo frets, a contoured
heel, and a lacquered, compoundradius
fretboard. Rather than the 7.25" or
9.5" radius commonly found on more traditional
Teles, the Select’s fretboard goes from
9.5" to 14", which means it works well for
everything from big bends to barre chords
and lightning-speed shred moves.

A Sound Selection
I tested the Select Telecaster through a
Fender blackface Deluxe Reverb and a
Fender Super-Sonic head and 4x12. While
both amps have the potential to deliver
quintessentially Telecaster tones, they can
also reveal the snarling, brittle side of a
Telecaster. But one of the first things you
notice about the Select Telecaster—and,
specifically, the special-design pickups—is
that you get signature Telecaster brightness
and cut, but with a rich fullness that never
gets too spiky or harsh. The pickups aren’t
especially hot, but they give the guitar a
refined and confident voice that matches its
outward elegance. If anything, they might
sound a little too smooth for those who like
their Telecaster tones a little more tattered.

Ratings

Pros:
luxurious looks with superb sounds and playability.

Cons:
might be a bit too flashy and polished for those who
favor the Telecaster’s bare-bones heritage.

Though the Select Telecaster may sound a
little polished, it’s also a polylingual character:
Whether you’re a country twanger, a garage
rocker, a blues demon, or a jazzer, it’s up
for the task. I used the guitar on a pop-rock
rehearsal where material ran from roughand-
ragged, Keef-inspired I–IV chording to
chimey, Tom Petty-esque Americana strumming,
and getting rich tones for both applications
was virtually effortless. The chambered
body adds a lively, resonant quality and a
sweet ring to jangly playing, but it also contributes
a complex, mellow woodiness for jazz.
Using the neck pickup with the tone control
rolled down to about 7, I got a detailed but
woolly tone perfect for Ed Bickert-style chord
melodies or Mike Stern-style single-note lines.

The Select Telecaster is equally at home
with overdrive. Telecasters can sometimes
get shrill when driven hard, but no matter
how high I goosed the gain or how
aggressively I set the tone controls, the
Select Tele retained its smooth character
and penchant for harmonic bloom.

Although the no-load control’s effect is
noticeable, it can be subtle. In other words,
you’re not going to mistake it for the boost
you get from an EQ pedal. However, its
organic qualities proved a godsend in a loud
rehearsal. When my tone felt a hair congested
during a solo, activating the no-load circuit
gave me a perceptible clarity and openness.

The Verdict
Sonically, visually, and ergonomically speaking,
the Select Telecaster is a very well-realized
instrument. Even if you’re a Telecaster purist,
you can’t argue that its design enhancements
don’t make it an exceptionally playable and
rich-sounding guitar. If you have unshakably
romantic notions about the Telecaster as a
rugged rock ’n’ roll machine and consider the
battle scars on Jeff Beck’s peeling Esquire Tele
badges of honor, the Select Telecaster may
seem a little precious. On the other hand, if
you’re among those who’ve sought boutique
alternatives because you’re a Tele player with
champagne tastes, this Fender is as thoughtfully
crafted and executed as many of the
astronomically priced boutique T-styles out
there. The truth is, you’d be hard pressed to
find a Telecaster nicer than this at any price—
and at a street price of $2,150, that makes the
Select almost seem like a bargain.

New York City native Joe Charupakorn is a guitarist, author, and editor. He has interviewed the world’s biggest guitar icons including Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, and Dave Davies, among many others, for Premier Guitar. Additionally, he has written over 20 instructional books for Hal Leonard Corporation. His books are available worldwide and have been translated into many languages. Visit him on the web at joecharupakorn.com.

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